Switching means for directly controlling operation of data storage devices, data storage/reproducing devices, and data reproducing devices

ABSTRACT

A storage device for directly fetching external data and for relaying the transfer of data, wherein a CD-R drive unit  13  is provided, as a data input device, with a computer input/output terminal  35,  a card reader unit  18  for reading the data of a PC card  20,  an infrared ray communication port  16,  and a modular jack  17.  When switches  26  and  28  are horizontally connected in the drawing, the data fetched by data input devices other than the computer input/output terminal  35  are written into a CD-R  32  and are stored. When a switch  34  is flipped to the left tilted direction in the drawing, the data written into the CD-R  32  are read out and output to the body  12  of a desk-top personal computer.

The present application is a divisional of prior application Ser. No.09/002,945, filed Jan. 5, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage device, a storage/reproducingdevice, and a rewritable reproducing device that are incorporated in orattached to a personal computer as a unitary structure. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a storage device, astorage/reproducing device, and a reproducing device that areincorporated in or attached to a desk-top personal computer as a unitarystructure.

2. Background of the Invention

The storage device of this kind has heretofore not been equipped with anexternal data input means, and data have been always input through apersonal computer such as a personal computer one. Without a personalcomputer, therefore, the storage device is unable to operate. However,with the widespread use of various information equipment such as PHS,digital camera and the like, which have a prerequisite of transferringthe data to a personal computer, it would be more convenient if transferof data can be relayed by a storage device.

Therefore, there arises a technical problem to be solved that storagedevices of this kind must be provided with a function of directlyfetching the data from an external unit and relaying the transfer ofdata. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem.

So far, furthermore, conventional storage/reproducing devices and thereproducing devices of this type have usually been formed in the shapeof a thin box. Therefore, a storage/reproducing device of built-in typehas a narrow area exposed from the front of the desk-top personalcomputer, and is difficult to secure a space where the connector forfetching record data from an external data unit is installed. It may bepossible to lead out the connector cable from the back of the personalcomputer and lay the cable along the outer side of the personalcomputer. However, this causes the operation to be complex, marring theappearance. It would be convenient if the storage/reproducing device andthe read-only reproducing device of the attached type, too, have afunction of easily fetching data from an external data unit.

Therefore, there arises a technical problem to be solved thatstorage/reproducing devices and the reproducing devices of this kind areimproved to easily fetch external data. The object of the presentinvention is to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve theabove-mentioned objects, and provides a storage device comprising acomputer input/output unit, and other input units such as a space wavecommunication port, a PC card loading/reading unit, and a telephonecircuit connection unit, and further including a first switching meansfor connecting either an input circuit from the computer input/outputunit or an input circuit from the other input units to a recordingcircuit connected to a storage unit of optical, magnetic, ormagneto-optical type, a second switching means for connecting the inputcircuit from the other input units to either the recording circuitconnected to the storage unit or an output circuit connected to thecomputer input/output unit, and a third switching means for connectingeither a reproducing circuit from the storage unit or the input circuitfrom the other input units to the output circuit connected to thecomputer input/output unit.

The invention further provides a storage/reproducing device accommodatedin a storing portion formed in a recessed manner in the front of apersonal computer, or a storage/reproducing device externally attachedto a personal computer, wherein a space wave communication port isdisposed in the front or on the top, the data fetched by the space wavecommunication port are recorded on a storage means of optical, magnetic,or magneto-optical type, and the recorded data are read out and outputto the personal computer.

The invention further provides a reproducing device accommodated in astoring portion formed in a recessed manner in the front of a personalcomputer, or a reproducing device externally attached to a personalcomputer, wherein a space wave communication port is disposed in thefront or on the top of the device, so that the data fetched by the spacewave communication port, too, are output to the personal computer, inaddition to a reproducing device that reads data stored in a storagemeans of optical, magnetic or magneto-optical type and outputs the datato the personal computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a desk-top personal computer illustrating anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a fourth embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described below in detailwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 2. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotesa desk-top personal computer system. A body 12 of the desk-top personalcomputer 11, having a video monitor 10 connected thereto, incorporates aCD-R drive unit 13 which is an example of a storage unit according tothe present invention.

The CD-R drive unit 13 is formed in the shape of a thin box, and itsfront face is exposed from the front of the main body 12. In the exposedfront face are disposed a CD-R slot 14, a PC card slot 15, an infraredcommunication port 16 of IrDA standard, and a modular jack 17 forconnection to a telephone circuit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the PC card slot 15 is formed integrally with a cardreader unit 18. Upon inserting a PC card 20 such as PHS 19 or the likein the PC card slot 15, the card reader unit 18 reads the data recordedon the PC card 20. Owing to a detent mechanism or the like mechanism,the PC card 20 can be detachably inserted in the PC card slot 15.

Furthermore, the infrared communication port 16 receives datatransmitted from a digital camera 21 having an infrared communicationfunction of the IrDA standards placed in front of the CD-R drive unit13. Thus, image data taken by using the digital camera 21 aretransferred to the CD-R drive unit 13.

By connecting a telephone circuit 22 to the modular jack 17,furthermore, various data sources are accessible through the telephonecircuit 22 and can be fetched by the CD-R drive unit 13.

Various data fetched by the CD-R drive unit 13 from the card reader unit18, infrared communication port 16 and modular jack 17, are subjected tointermediate processings through I/F units 23, 24, 25, and arrive at aswitch 26. When the switch 26 is flipped to the horizontal direction inthe drawing, the data are once buffered by a memory control unit 27.When a switch 28 at the succeeding stage of the memory control unit 27(left side in the drawing) is flipped to the horizontal direction in thedrawing, the data pass through the switch 28 and are subjected to paritychecking through a data processing unit 29.

After the electric power for recording is controlled by a PW controlunit 30, the data are written into a CD-R 32 loaded in the CD-R slot 14by an optical head 31. Thus, the data from the PC card 20, digitalcamera 21 or telephone circuit 22 are directly fetched by the CD-R driveunit, and are recorded and stored without passing through the desk-toppersonal computer 11.

When the switch 26 is flipped to a lower tilted direction in thedrawing, the data that have passed through the I/F units 23, 24, 25 areconverted through an I/F unit 33 into an interface format of the SCSIstandard or the ATAPI standard. When a switch 34 located at thesucceeding stage of the I/F unit 33 (lower side in the drawing) isflipped toward the right tilted direction in the drawing, the dataarrive at a computer input/output terminal 35 through the switch 34, andare output to the body 12 of the desk-top personal computer 11 through aconnecting cable 36. Thus, the CD-R drive unit 13 in this case serves asan input means enabling the desk-top personal computer 11 to fetchexternal data. Therefore, even when the desk-top personal computer 11 isnot provided with means for inputting external data, external data canbe easily fetched through the CD-R drive unit 13, enabling the desk-toppersonal computer 11 to have an improved function.

When the data in the body 12 of the desk-top personal computer 11 areoutput to the CD-R drive unit 13 after flipping the switch 28 toward thelower tilted direction in the drawing and flipping the switch 34 towardthe left tilted direction in the drawing, then, the data pass throughthe switch 34 and are subjected to an intermediate processing at the I/Funit 37, buffered by a memory control unit 38, and sent to the switch28. The data then pass through the switch 28, data processing unit 29and PW control unit 30, and are written onto the CD-R 32 by the opticalhead 31. Thus, the CD-R drive unit 13 in this case serves as anauxiliary storage unit for the desk-top personal computer 11. Therefore,when the capacity of the hard disk in the desk-top personal computer 11is insufficient, the CD-R drive unit 13 can be used in its place.

When the data written on the CD-R 32 are read out by the optical head 31after flipping the switch 34 toward the left tilted direction in thedrawing, the data are demodulated by a demodulator unit 39, and thensubjected to a processing such as a processing of removing the paritycode in a data processing unit 40. The data are then fetched by the body12 of the desk-top personal computer 11 passing through the memorycontrol unit 38 and the I/F unit 37. Thus, the data written on the CD-R32 are reproduced on the monitor of the desk-top personal computer 11,making it possible to edit the data.

Here, use is made of a CD-R as a storage unit. The present invention,however, is in no way limited thereto, and a magnetic disk such as afloppy disk or a magneto-optical disk such as a mini-disk may be used.Moreover, the invention of claims 1 to 4 can be modified in a variety ofways without departing from the spirit of the invention, and includesall such modifications as a matter of course.

For the storage device of the invention as described above, externaldata can be directly fetched through “other input units” without passingthrough a personal computer. It is further possible to output fetchedexternal data directly to the personal computer, or to fetch data fromthe personal computer and record it by using three kinds of “switchingmeans”. It is therefore possible to add an input function to a personalcomputer which is not provided with an input unit that corresponds tothe above-mentioned “other input units”. Also, the storage device can beused as a so-called auxiliary storage device of the personal computer,contributing to enhancing the utility of the personal computer and ofvarious information equipment.

The storage device according to the invention fetches external data byspace wave communication. The space wave communication port, which is aninput unit requires an installation space smaller than that of theconnector, and does not mar the system's appearance. Such aconfiguration is very effective when the storage device is incorporatedas a unit in the desk-top personal computer.

The storage device according to the invention accommodates the PC card,receives the data, and records and regenerates the data. Therefore, theuser is allowed to directly input the data from, the example, the PHS,or to input data into the PC card by using PDA or the like remotely andeasily transfer the data from the PC card to the storage device.

For the storage device according to the invention, various data sourcesare accessible through a telephone circuit, and data can be recorded andreproduced.

Embodiments of the inventions will now be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 3 to 8. For simple description, common elements inthe embodiments of the claims of FIGS. 3 to 8 are denoted by the samereference numerals.

Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 11A denotes a desk-top personalcomputer system. A storing portion 41 of the shape of a thin box isformed in a recessed manner in the front of a desk-top personal computer11A, and a CD-R drive unit 42 which is a storage/reproducing device ofthe invention of claim 3 is accommodated in the storing portion 41.Therefore, the front of the CD-R drive unit 42 is exposed from thestoring portion 41. The CD-R drive unit 42 is provided in the exposedfront and an infrared communication port 44 conforming to the IrDAstandards is disposed therein. Moreover, a PC card slot 45 and a modularjack 46 for connection to a telephone circuit are arranged.

A CD-R drive unit 47 which is a storage/reproducing device of theinvention is attached to a desk-top personal computer 11B shown in FIG.4. A CD-R slot 43 is opened in the front of the CD-R drive unit 47, andan infrared communication port 44 of the IrDA standards, a PC card slot45 and a modular jack 46 for connection to a telephone circuit are alsoprovided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the PC card slot 45 is formed integrally with a cardreader unit 18A. When a PC card 20A of a PHS 19 is inserted in the PCcard slot 45, the card reader unit 18A reads the data through the PCcard 20A. Owing to a detent mechanism, the PC card 20A can be detachablyinserted in the PC card slot 45. Upon connecting a telephone circuit 48to the modular jack 46, furthermore, a variety of data sources can beaccessed via the telephone circuit 48, and data can be fetched by theCD-R drive units 42, 47.

The infrared communication port 44 receives data transmitted from adigital camera 49 having an infrared communication function conformingto the IrDA standards placed in front of the CD-R drive unit 42, 47.Thus, the data on the image taken by the digital camera 49 are veryeasily transferred to the CD-R drive unit 42, 47. Moreover, the infraredcommunication port 44 requires an installation space smaller than thatof the connector, and is easy to install and does not mar the system'sappearance.

The image data fetched by the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 are subjected to anintermediate processing through an I/F unit 50, and are sent to a switch51. After flipping the switch 51 toward the horizontal direction in thedrawing, the image data are once buffered by the memory control unit 52.Then, flipping a switch 53 at the succeeding stage of the memory controlunit 52 (left side in the drawing), the image data are sent to a dataprocessing unit 54 through the switch 53 and subjected to paritychecking. Then, the electric power for recording is controlled by the PWcontrol unit 55, and the data are written by an optical head 56 into aCD-R 57 stored in the CD-R slot 43, and stored.

To reproduce image data recorded and stored in the CD-R 57, the imagedata are read out by the optical head 56. The image data that are readout are demodulated by a demodulator unit 58 and are subjected to a.processing such as a processing of removing the parity code in a dataprocessing unit 59. After buffering by the memory control unit 60, thedata are converted into an interface format of the SCSI standards or theATAPI standard through an I/F unit 61, and sent to a switch 62. When theswitch 62 is flipped toward the left tilted direction in the drawing,the image data are output to the desk-top personal computer 11A, l1Bthrough a computer input/output terminal 63 and a cable 64. Thus, theimage data are reproduced and displayed on the monitor 10 of thedesk-top personal computer 11A, 11B, making it possible to edit andprint out the image data.

When the switch 51 is flipped toward the lower tilted direction in thedrawing, the image data that have passed through the I/F unit 50 areconverted into the interface format of the above-mentioned predeterminedstandards through an I/F unit 65. When the switch 62 is flipped towardthe right tilted direction in the drawing, the image data are output tothe desk-top personal computer 11A, l1B through the computerinput/output terminal 63 and the cable 64. Thus, the CD-R drive unit 42,47 in this case serves as an input means enabling the desk-top personalcomputer 11A, llB to receive the image data, and helps improve theperformance of the desk-top personal computer which has not beenprovided with a space wave communication function such as an infraredreceiving system.

The data fetched by the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 from the card reader unit18A and the modular jack 46 are subjected to an intermediate processingthrough I/F units 66, 67, and sent to the switch 51. When the switches51 and 53 are flipped toward the horizontal direction in the drawing,data are written into the CD-R 57 by the optical head 56 through thememory control unit 52, data processing unit 54 and PW control unit 55,and are recorded and stored like the above-mentioned image data. Thesame holds for reproduction. When the switch 62 is flipped toward theleft tilted direction in the drawing, the data are output to thedesk-top personal computer 11A, 11B through the optical head 56,demodulator unit 58, data processing unit 59, memory control unit 60,I/F unit 61, computer input/output terminal 63 and cable 64.

When the switch 51 is flipped toward the lower tilted direction in thedrawing and the switch 62 is flipped toward the right tilted directionin the drawing, the data fetched by the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 from thecard reader unit 18A and modular jack 46 are output to the desk-toppersonal computer 11A, 1lB through the I/F unit 66 or 67, I/F unit 65,computer input/output terminal 63 and cable 64 like the above-mentionedmentioned image e data. In this case, the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 servesas an input means enabling the desk-top personal computer 1A, 11B tofetch data recorded in the PC card 20A and data accessed through thetelephone circuit 48.

Next, after the switch 53 is flipped to the lower tilted direction inthe drawing, and the switch 62 is flipped toward the left tilteddirection in the drawing, data in the desk-top personal computer 11A,11B are output to the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 from the desk-top personalcomputer 11A, 11B through the cable 64. Then, the data are written intothe CD-R 57 by the optical head 56 through the I/F unit 61, memorycontrol unit 60, data processing unit 54 and PW control unit 55. In thiscase, the CD-R drive unit 42, 47 serves as an auxiliary storage devicefor the desk-top personal computer 11A, 11B.

In a desk-top personal computer 68A shown in FIG. 6, a storing portion41 is formed in a recessed manner in the front thereof, and a CD-ROMdrive unit 42A which is a reproducing device according to the inventionis accommodated in the storing portion 41. In the front of the CD-ROMdrive unit 42A, a CD-ROM slot 43 is formed and an infrared communicationport 44 of the IrDA standards is disposed. There are further disposed aPC card slot 45, a modular jack 46 for connection to a telephonecircuit, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7, a CD-ROM drive unit 42B which is a reproducingdevice of the invention is attached to a desk-top personal computer 68B.In the front of the CD-ROM drive unit 42B, the CD-ROM slot 43 is formed,the infrared communication port 44 of the IrDA standard is disposed and,the PC card slot 45, modular jack 46 for connection to a telephonecircuit, and the like, are also disposed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the CD-ROM drive unit 42A, 42B has a structure fromwhich are removed constituent elements related to the writing function(concretely, switch 51, memory control unit 52, switch 53, dataprocessing unit 54, and PW control unit 55) of the CD-R drive unit 42,47. Normally, the switch 62 is flipped toward the left in the drawing,the data recorded in the CD-ROM 69 stored in the CD-ROM slot 43 are readout by a read-only optical disk 70, and the data that are read out areoutput to the desk-top personal computer 68A, 68B through thedemodulator unit 58, data processing unit 59, memory control unit 60,I/F unit 61, computer output terminal 71, and cable 72, and reproduced.

When the switch 62 is flipped toward the right tilted direction in thedrawing, image data of a digital camera 49 are fetched by the infraredcommunication port 44, and output to the desk-top personal computer 68A,68B through the I/F unit 50, IF unit 65, computer output terminal 71 andcable 72. Thus, the image data can be edited by using the desk-toppersonal computer 68A, 68B and can be printed out. The CD-ROM drive unit42A, 42B in this case serves as an input means enabling the desk-toppersonal computer 68A, 68B to fetch image data from the digital camera49, and helps improve the function of the desk-top personal computerwhich has not been furnished with an infrared space wave communicationfunction.

Similarly, the data fetched through the PC card 20A and the dataaccessed through the telephone circuit 48, can be fetched by the CD-ROMdrive unit 42A, 42B through the card reader unit 18A formed integrallywith the PC card slot 45 and the modular jack 46, and can be output tothe desk-top personal computer 68A, 68B through the I/F unit 66 or 67,I/F unit 65, computer output terminal 71 and cable 72.

Here, image data of the digital camera 49 having an infraredcommunication function are transmitted to the infrared communicationport 44 which is a space wave communication port. The present invention,however, is in no way limited thereto only and can be applied to anydata transmitted from information apparatus having a space wavecommunication function such as of infrared rays. Similarly, furthermore,the CD-R 57 and CD-ROM 69 are used as storage means. The invention,however, is in no way limited thereto only, and there can be used amagnetic disk such as a floppy disk or a magneto-optical disk such as amini-disk. Moreover, the inventions can be modified in a variety of wayswithout department from the spirit of the invention, and cover all suchmodified embodiments as a matter of course.

As described above, the storage/reproducing device and the reproducingdevice of the present invention make it possible to easily and directlyfetch data from information apparatus without any cable, as long as theinformation apparatus of the data transmitting side is provided with aspace wave communication function, and, further, make it possible torecord and reproduce data or to output data directly to a personalcomputer. The space wave communication port for fetching data requiresan installation space smaller than that required by the connector, andcan be easily disposed though the storage device has a small thicknesswithout marring the appearance. Moreover, no limitation is imposed onthe personal computer body such as a desk-top personal computer or thelike contributing to improving the performance of the personal computerwhich is not furnished with a space wave communication function.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage/reproducing device accommodated in astoring portion formed in a recessed manner in a front of a personalcomputer, wherein a space wave communication port is disposed in thefront, data fetched by said space wave communication port are recordedinto an optical, magnetic, or magneto-optical storage unit, and therecorded data are read out and output to said personal computer.
 2. Astorage/reproducing device externally attached to a personal computer,wherein a space wave communication port is disposed on a surface, datafetched by said space wave communication port are recorded into anoptical, magnetic, or magneto-optical storage unit, and the recordeddata are read out and output to said personal computer.
 3. A reproducingdevice accommodated in a storing portion formed in a recessed manner ina front of a personal computer and used for reading out data recorded inan optical, magnetic or magneto-optical storage unit and for outputtingthe data to said personal computer, wherein a space wave communicationport is disposed in the front, so that the data fetched by said spacewave communication port, too, are output to the personal computer.
 4. Areproducing device externally attached to a personal computer and usedfor reading out data recorded in an optical, magnetic or magneto-opticalstorage unit and for outputting the data to said personal computer,wherein a space wave communication port is disposed on a surface, sothat the data fetched by said space wave communication port, too, areoutput to the personal computer.
 5. A storage and data transfer devicefor use with a personal computer comprising: a space wave communicationport; a storage unit; and a switch connected to said space wavecommunication port, said storage unit, and the personal computer whereinsaid space wave communication port, said storage unit, and the personalcomputer are selectively coupled together, whereby data fetched by saidspace wave communication port is capable of being directed to eithersaid storage unit or the personal computer.
 6. A storage and datatransfer device as in claim 5 wherein: said storage unit comprises anoptical storage unit.
 7. A storage and data transfer device as in claim5 wherein: said storage unit comprises a magnetic storage unit.
 8. Astorage and data transfer device as in claim 5 wherein: said storageunit comprises a magneto-optical storage unit.
 9. A storage and datatransfer device as in claim 5 wherein: said storage unit is internallycontained within the personal computer.
 10. A storage and data transferdevice as in claim 5 wherein: said storage unit is externally connectedto the personal computer.
 11. A storage and data transfer device for usewith a personal computer used to transfer data from an external sourcecomprising: a space wave communication port; a storage unit; means forreading from said storage unit; and means for selectively coupling tosaid space wave communication port, said storage unit, and the personalcomputer, whereby data fetched by said space wave communication port iscapable of being directed to either said storage unit or the personalcomputer.
 12. A storage and data transfer device as in claim 11 furthercomprising: means for recording to said storage unit.
 13. A storage anddata transfer device for use with a personal computer used to transferdata from an external source to the personal computer comprising: aspace wave communication port for receiving data from the externalsource; a storage unit selectively coupled directly to said space wavecommunication port; means, coupled to said storage unit, for writing tosaid storage unit with the data received from the external source bysaid space wave communication port; means, coupled to said storage unit,for reading from said storage unit the data written to said storageunit; and means for selectively coupling to said space wavecommunication port, said storage unit, and the personal computer whereinthe data fetched by said space wave communication port is capable ofbeing directed to either said storage unit or the personal computer.